46 FALCONID^. 



were brought from the eastern countries. It exceeds the 

 Peregrine Falcon in size, being intermediate between that 

 and the Gyr-Falcon; was much esteemed for flying at 

 the Kite, with which the Peregrine is hardly able to con- 

 tend." The name of Lanner is confined to the female ; 

 the male is called a Lanneret, on account of his smaller 

 size. This species is said to have been called lanarius, 

 from the woolly softness and thickness of its plumage. 

 It is also said that nestling Lanners are brought from 

 Sicily, where this species breeds on rocks. 



Sir John Sebright, in his Observations on Hawking, be- 

 fore quoted, thus describes the mode of flying Peregrine 

 Falcons at Herons, as practised in Norfolk : " A well- 

 stocked Heronry in an open country is necessary for this 

 sport ; and this may be seen in the greatest perfection at 

 Didlington in Norfolk, the seat of Colonel Wilson. This 

 Heronry is situated on a river, with an open country on 

 every side of it. The Herons go out in the morning to 

 rivers and ponds at a very considerable distance in search 

 of food, and return to the Heronry towards the evening. 



"It is at this time that the falconers place themselves 

 in the open country, down wind of the Heronry ; so that 

 when the Herons are intercepted on their return home, 

 they are obliged to fly against the wind to gain their 

 place of retreat. When a Heron passes, a cast (a couple) 

 of Hawks is let go. The Heron disgorges his food when 

 he finds that he is pursued, and endeavours to keep above 

 the Hawks by rising in the air ; the Hawks fly in a spiral 

 direction to get above the Heron, and thus the three birds 

 frequently appear to be flying in different directions. The 

 first Hawk makes his stoop as soon as he gets above the 

 Heron, who evades it by a shift, and thus gives the se- 

 cond Hawk time to get up, and to stoop in his turn. In 

 what is deemed a good flight, this is frequently repeated, 



